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Identify
Nuisance Wildlife
| Foxes |
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Description
& Habitat
Four
species of foxes make Colorado
home. The red fox
lives in
riparian woodland and wetlands
on the plains and
in forest-edge communities in the
mountains. The gray fox
is
found in brushy areas
in canyons and along the
foothills. The tiny swift fox
is a species of the eastern
plains and its near relative,
the kit
fox, lives in desert shrub lands
in the western valleys.
Red and gray
foxes are 3 feet long and
weigh 9 to 11 pounds. Red
foxes are reddish orange
above, white below, and have a
white-tipped tail and black
ears and feet. Gray foxes
have
a black-tipped tail, reddish
ears and feet and a mane
of
stiff black hairs on their
grayish brown back. Swift and
kit foxes are only 27 to 36
inches long, their tails are
as long as their bodies. They
weigh 4 to 7 pounds.
Disease
Distemper
- A contagious, incurable, often fatal,
multisystemic
viral disease
that affects the respiratory,
gastrointestinal, and central nervous systems.
It is possible for humans to
contract an asymptomatic (subclinical)
CDV infection. Anyone who’s
been immunized against measles
(a related virus) is protected
against CDV as well.
Rabies - is an acute, fatal
encephalomyelitis caused by neurotropic
viruses. It is almost always
transmitted by an animal bite
that
inoculates the virus
into wounds. Any coyote bite or
scratch
should receive prompt
local treatment by thorough
cleansing
of the wound with
copious amounts of soap and
water; this local treatment
will significantly reduce the
risk of rabies. Anyone who may have been exposed to
rabies should be advised to
always contact local health
authorities immediately for
advice about post exposure prophylaxis and should also
contact their personal
physician as soon as possible.
For
more information on these
diseases contact:
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
at 800-311-3435
or e-mail them at: http://www.cdc.gov/netinfo.htm
Damage
Problems associated with foxes include depredation on small livestock such as,
chickens, rabbits, and young
lambs, and their potential to carry disease organisms.
Small domestic animals may also be preyed on. Sometimes a fox
will dig dens around
residential areas, they may
also dig holes under fencing
or
buildings to gain entry.
Damage
Control
Healthy
foxes pose virtually no danger
to humans. Animals that appear
sick or that are acting
abnormally should be avoided.
The following symptoms may
indicate the presence of
rabies or other neurological
diseases in mammals:
unprovoked aggression,
impaired movement, paralysis
or lack of coordination,
unusually friendly behavior
and disorientation. Damage
control of a fox
is normally
done by cage, traps or
snares.
ADC
Solutions
Foxes
that are causing damage to
your property or are threatening
you or others on your property
can legally be trapped.
Relocation with permit only.
An ADC wildlife professional can help decide
what will work best for
your particular wildlife
damage situation.
For expert advice and solutions
to nuisance wildlife problems,
Call
Us Now!
Office:
303-884-9100
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